Aegean Region
AEGEAN REGION
Geographical position
It is the fifth largest region in the west of our country in terms of area. There is Marmara in the north, Central Anatolia in the east and Mediterranean Regions in the south. In the west is the Aegean Sea, which is named after it.
Landforms
Some of the landforms in the region were formed by the ruptures (Orogeny-Mountain formation) caused by the earth's crust movements. Rising places formed Horst (mountain) in places of fracture, and places that collapsed formed Graben (collapsed plain). It is our region with the highest horst and graben formation.
Horsts; Kaz Mountain, Madra Mountain, Yunt Mountain, Boz Mountains, Aydın Mountains and Menteşe Mountains.
Grabens; Edremit, Bakırçay, Gediz, K. Menderes and B. Menderes.
In the west of the region, the mountains lie perpendicular to the shore. As a result;
- Indentation is excessive. Many bays and gulfs have been formed. Gulfs; Edremit, Dikili, Çandarlı, İzmir, Kuşadası, Güllük and Gökova.
- It is easy to reach inland areas. The hinterland (ard zone) of the ports is wide. So it appeals to a wide area.
- The sea effect can be penetrated inland.
- Transverse coastal types have been formed.
- The continental shelf (sea to a depth of 200 m from the shore) is wide.
The extension of the mountains has changed in the southwest of the region (in the region of Menteşe). The mountains are in the Northwest-Southeast direction here. The coastal type formed as a result of the flooding of the river valleys in these coasts is called Ria type coasts.
There are small cones around Manisa-Kula formed by volcanism.
The altitude increases in the inner parts and the direction of the mountains changes. The most important high plateau here is Yazılı rock plateau.
Climate and Vegetation
The climate that is effective in the west of the region to the inner parts is the Mediterranean climate. Summers are hot and dry, winters are warm and rainy. The hottest month average is 27-28 ° C, the coldest month average is 8-10 ° C. The annual average is 17-18 ° C. Snowfall and frost is very rare. The highest rainfall is in the winter, the least in the summer. The precipitation seen in the winter is the frontal origin. Annual rainfall varies according to altitude. It is between 600-1000 mm on average.
The vegetation is a dwarf plant community that we call maquis. Maquis; myrtle, laurel, arbutus, olives, oleander, carob, oak kernel and so on. It consists of plants. There are forests in high places. (red pine forests).
The Mediterranean climate in the region deteriorates with the effect of latitude from south to north and altitude from west to east.
As we move towards the inner parts, the continental climate is switched due to the increase in altitude and the departure from the sea effect. For this reason, winters are cold and snowy in the interior. Vegetation is steppe. There are oak forests in places at the height.
Streams and Lakes
The main rivers of the region are Bakırçay, Gediz, Küçük and Büyük Menderes streams that flow into the Aegean Sea through the collapsed plains.
Since the slopes of the sea beds are low, it is our region where the meander phenomenon is most common in streams. They form delta plains by accumulating alluvium in the sea where they are poured. Example: As the historical cities of Miletus and Ephesus, which were previously port cities, remain inland today.
The main lakes are Marmara and Bafa (Çamiçi) lakes.
These lakes are an example of an alluvial set lake in terms of formation. There are also dam lakes in the region, Demirköprü in Gediz, Kemer and Adıgüzel on Büyük Menderes.
Economic Activities
Agriculture:
Since the climatic conditions are favorable in the fertile agricultural areas in the west of the region, the variety of commercial agricultural products is high. Grown products;
Olive (58%): It can be cultivated in the collapse plains and margins in the west of the region. It is mostly concentrated around Edremit-Ayvalık-Burhaniye.
Grape (40%): Seedless grapes produced around Manisa, Izmir and Denizli are dried. It is our important export product.
Poppy (86%): State control, mainly Afyon; Agriculture is carried out in Uşak, Kütahya, Denizli and finally in some districts of Manisa.
Tobacco (55%): Agriculture has developed in the west of the region around Manisa, İzmir, Aydın, Muğla and Denizli.
Figs (82%): It is cultivated mostly around Aydın (Büyük and Küçük Menderes plains).
Cotton (39%): It is cultivated in all collapsed plains in the west of the region.
Potato: It is cultivated extensively around İzmir-Ödemiş.
Citrus fruits (11%): It is cultivated in the west of the region, on the south coasts up to İzmir. It can also be inserted up to the inner parts (150-200 km). The reason is that the mountains are perpendicular to the sea.
Vegetables (20%): Due to the mild winters in the west of the region, greenhouse cultivation and vegetable production can be done all year round.
Sesame (24%): It can be cultivated in the collapsed plains in the west.
Wheat (10%): Wheat can be grown all over the region. However, agriculture is more developed in the Inner West Anatolia Region.
Barley (14%): Its agriculture is mostly developed in the inner parts.
Sugar beet (11%): Its agriculture has developed around Afyon, Uşak and Kütahya.
Farming:
Poultry farming around the big cities (İzmir-Manisa-Denizli), beekeeping around Muğla, Aydın, İzmir and Manisa, fishing on the coasts (sponge fishing is also carried out on the Bodrum-Marmaris coast), and hair goat breeding in the Menteşe region. In addition, cattle breeding has developed around sugar factories and big cities, and sheep breeding in the inland areas.
Mines:
Lignite: Our removed from the area where most lignite in Turkey and find the highest-quality lignite. Since there are many lignite deposits, thermal power plants are also abundant.
Lignite in the region; It is mined around Manisa (Soma), Aydın, Muğla (Yatağan), Kütahya (Tavşanlı, Tunçbilek, Seyit Ömer, Değirmisaz) and Denizli.
Iron: It is mined around Edremit (Kaz Mountain).
Boron Minerals: Kütahya-Emet
Mercury: Izmir (Ödemiş-Karaburun-Çeşme), Uşak (Eşme)
Salt: İzmir-Çamaltı Saltpan
Marble: Afyon, Kütahya, Manisa surroundings
Chrome: Kütahya, around Muğla.
Emery Stone: İzmir-Aydın-Muğla surroundings
Industry:
It is our region where industry is the most developed after Marmara Region.
Weaving: Denizli, Aydın (Nazilli) Izmir, Manisa.
Petro-chemistry: İzmir-Aliağa.
Leather: Izmir, Manisa, Usak
Sugar: Afyon, Uşak, Kütahya
Tile-porcelain: Kütahya
Cement: İzmir, Denizli, Afyon
Fertilizer: Kütahya, İzmir
Thermal power plant: Muğla (Yatağan-Gökova), Manisa-Soma, Kütahya (Tunçbilek-Seyitömer)
Geothermal power plant: Denizli-Sarayköy, Aydın Germencik
Carpet-Kilim: Manisa (Kula, Demirci, Gördes), Kütahya (Simav), Muğla-Milas, Denizli-Tavas.
Paper: Afyon-Tea, Izmir
Automotive: İzmir
Electronic goods: İzmir, Manisa, Aydın-Nazilli, Denizli,
Furniture: İzmir-Karabağlar
Detergent: İzmir, Manisa
Medicine: İzmir
Smoking: İzmir, Manisa-Akhisar (Waiting to be opened)
Ceramic: Kütahya, Manisa (Turgutlu-Akhisar)
Brick-Tile: Manisa (Turgutlu-Salihli-Alaşehir-Akhisar), Aydın
Tourism:
After the Marmara Region, it is our region where tourism is most developed. The most developing tourism activity is sea tourism. It is also rich in historical artifacts.
Virgin Mary, Bergama, Bodrum, Sart, Milet, Pamukkale (Hieropolis), Çavdarhisar are the main ancient cities in the region.
Pamukkale is an important tourism city with its travertines. Health tourism (Balçova, Çeşme, Pamukkale, Karahayıt, Eynal) and national parks (Dilek peninsula, Spil Mountain) are other tourism resources.
Population and Settlement
After Marmara Region, it is our region that receives the most immigration. The population of the region is constantly increasing with migrations. During the summer, seasonal population growth is also observed in the west of the region due to tourism and agricultural labor migration. The population is generally concentrated on the edge of the collapsed plains in the west of the region. Population is sparse in the inner parts. The reason is that the climate is continental and the industry is not developed. The hinge area on the coast is sparsely populated due to the rugged terrain.
SECTIONS
REAL AEGEAN (COAST) REGION
It continues until the end of the depression plains. Important residential areas; It is İzmir, Manisa, Denizli, Aydın and Muğla.
Mediterranean climate is seen.
Fertile agricultural lands cover a large area. There is a large variety of commercial agricultural products.
Industry and trade have developed. The international fair held every year in Izmir also has an effect on the development of trade.
Turkey's Port of Izmir is the biggest export port, in this section. In the development of Izmir port; The large hinterland (good connection with the inner parts) and the cultivation of commercial agricultural products in the surrounding agricultural areas have been effective.
Population density is above the average of Turkey.
The first railway was built between Aydın and İzmir. Today, railway passes through all provinces except Muğla.
Turkey's sole geothermal energy plant is the Denizli-Sarayköy.
Our first weaving factory was opened in Aydın-Nazilli.
Turkey's economy with agriculture, industry and tourism contribute to the direction.
CENTRAL ANATOLIA REGION
It is the section that includes Afyon, Uşak and Kütahya.
* Terrestrial climate is effective. Agricultural product variety is less. Major agricultural products are wheat, barley, sugar beet and poppy.
Industry is not developed.
* Population is sparse.
* Its contribution to our economy is mostly agriculture and animal husbandry.